Trolley bucket



S. H. DURBIN TROLLEY BUCKET Jul 12, 1932.

Filed'March 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS S. H. DURBIN TROLLEY BUCKET July 12, 1932.

Filed March 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS r 25 pended from a Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEY STANLEY H. DURBIN, OF HUDSON, NEW YORK, AS$IGNOR T GIFFORD-WOOD COMPANY, 7 OF HUDSOII NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ,ZTBOL'LEY BUCKET Application fil ed March 19, 1931. Serial No. 523,886.

This invention relates to trolley buckets,

that is, traversing hoist buckets which receive their loads from above and discharge the same through their bottoms; and among iother objects, aims to provide a bucket controlled entirely by the hoist line, as shown in the Bennett Patent No. 1,7 41,128,'December 24:, 1929, which, however, is advantageously closedautomatically as soon as theload is discharged, thus effecting important economies in theconstruction of the plant and improving operating conditions.

In the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bucket; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the bucket; ig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the bucket open; and Y j Fig. 4c is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing details of the construction. I

shown in the drawings, I provide a bucket comprising a split or two-part body, suspivote'd bail which is supported by a power-actuated hoist line (not shown). The bucket body consists of two similar halves 10. 11, each comprising side walls 12, end walls 13 and a sloping bottom 14. pivotallv connected together adjacent their tops by axially alined pivot pins 15. Each side wall 12 has fenders 16, 17 projecting above the top and below the bottom thereof, as fully described and claimed in Bennett Patent No. 1,791,882 dated February 10, 1931, and also has strengthening ribs 18, 19 on the outside thereof. The vertical meeting edges of the bucket halves 10, 11 are :being fast to "comprises two arms otedon' thepivot pins 15. A roller 31 is rotatably mounted on each pin 15, as shown, In accordance with the invention, and as ple.

stiffened by straps 20, while thecontacting the angles 21. To trip the latches, one or 7 more trip pads 27 is provided, each trip pad the rock shaft 28 to rock the same to lift the latch or latches whenever the bucket descends low enoughto bring saidtrip pads into contact with anobstacle, such as the bottom of a bin, or the top of a pile of material- Similar bucket-latching means are shown in the above mentioned Bennett patents; but obviously any form of bucket locking or latching mechanism, which is released or tripped upon contact with the ground, may be employedwiththe present bucket.

The bail by which the bucket is suspended 28 and'a cross bar 29, a

sheave 30 for the hoist cablebeing pivotally -mounted on top of cross bar 29.v As shown in Fig. 4:, the lower ends of arms 28 are pivand the two rollers 31 provide means (co-operating with tracks, not shown) by which the bucket is guided as it rises and descends from the loading point. See Patent No. 1,791,844 dated February 10, 1931, for exam- It will be observed that whereas the two aforesaid Bennett patents show two guiding rollers on eachside of thebucket, the present bucket has but one roller on each side, thus effecting an economy in manufacture and also making the bucket lighter in weight. It is possible to employ but one pair of rollers on the present bucket because it is used with a novel form of automatic gate which is the subject-matter of a copending application, Serial No. 580,707 filed by me'December 12, 1931.

The present bucket is designed to open and close automatically, as will now be described, when lowered and hoisted by the hoist line. The two halves of the bucket are not directly pivoted on the pivot pins 15 but are connected thereto by plates 32, 33, the plates 32 being outside of the side walls 12 and the plates 33 being inside. Pivots 34, 35 pass through plates 32, 33 adjacent their lower edges and at the opposite ends thereof, and also pass through the side walls 12 so as to unite the bucket halves to said plates. The 100 of material, the bucket is V hoist line (and in thecase of a trolley bucket system is then moved horizontally links36 are pivotally connected'asat 37', ,38 to the bucket sides '12'on' each side 'of the body. The links 36 are preferably adjustable in length, as clearly shown in Fig. 3,'to

insure proper action.

Operation Assuming the bucket to be closed" and latched, as in Fig. l, and full or partly full elevated by the by'a tray erseline) and then l'oweredto the point where its contentsare to be: dumped." As soon as one or'rnore of the trip pads is'rocked by contact with the ground, or'with the top of a pile of materiaR-the latch is-trippedto 'per1nit-the"bucket to open/- The 'weighirof the material in the bucket'presses' against the downwardly inclined bottom sections. '14, and tliu's-th'ere-isa component of force tending to i move the" two bucketi sections" apart; I he fiillf'line position of Fig; 3 is only mo'mentarily'assumechhowever,and may be considered the full discharge position, assumed when" a heavy load" is rapidly'discharged from the bucket. The initial position ofthe bucket sections when dumping is approxi- 'Inatelythe one'indicatedin dotte'd'lin'es in Fig 3, and said dotted line-position is also substantially illustrative of the bucket: when "the flow of mat'eri'all'has nearly ceasedyand just before the hoist line'starts to hoist the bucket a ga'il'i. 7

As soona s the hoistline, upon first being hauled'in, supports the entire weight of the bucket, the bucket halves close, because the v center of gravity of eachhalf is-between the pivots 34, 35, and'of course is lower than the l ne 101mng said pivots; Themass of the bucket halves is such asto bring them together with some force, so that the latches are automatically engagedtomaintain the bucket closed during the remainder of the operating cycle.

bucket descends to the 'loadin gpoint with its Thus itis seen that the bottom closed; This is advantageous not only in eliminating bottom-closing members (as disclosed in the Bennett Patent No. 1,741,123) but what is-inore important, permits theme of a shallower pitor pocket for the bucket todescend 1n:- A saving of eight 1 inches or more in a concrete pit efl'ectsasaving in materials andlabor and hence in cost of installation; and incidentally saves wear and tear on the bucket; Furthermore, to

, stricted t0-.-the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What I claim is 1. A bucketcomprising two complemental sections together making up; the body of the bucket and each having two-side walls, an end wall and a sloping bottom; a pairv of spacedrss plates on each side of the bucket having pivotal members at the opposite endsyth'e bucket" sections having their side walls-between the two platesof each pair and being 'pivota'lly supported by theaforesaid pivotal; 'members; ajbail attached to said plates for supportingv the bucket; and obstructiontripped latching mean-s for'holding the bucket sectionsin closed position.

2; Abucket comprising two complemental 9 sections together'making up the body-.oi-the bucket and each havingtwo-sidewalls, an

end wall and a sloping bottom;v a. pair, of spaced :plateson each side of-the: bucket havingjpivotal members at the opposite ends thee 1 bucket sections having their side walls between thetwo plates of each pair. and being pivotally-support'ed by the aforesaid pivota-l members; a link pivotally connectedto the sidewalls ofth'e two'bucketsections-on3105 each-side of the bucket; a bailattachcdto said platesfor supporting'the bucketgand obstruction-tripped latching means for holdi ngthe bucket sections in closed position.

3.- A bucketcomprising two complemental-i sections together making up the body of V the bucket and each-having two side walls, an end walland'a sloping bottom; a pair of spaced plates on' each side of the bucket having pivotal-members at the opposite ends; thei'l15 bucket-sections having their side walls between thetwo plates of each pair-and. being pivotallysupported: by theaforesaid pivotal members; a'bail pivotally attached toythe two pairsof plates on opposite sides of the bucket; and a latch, tripped by contact with 'an obstruction encountered beneath the buckbucket sections having their side walls between the two plates of each pair and being pivotally suported by the aforesaid pivotal members; a bail pivotally attached to the two pairs of plates on opposite sides of the bucket: a roller rotatably mounted on each side of the bucket outside said pairs of plates,

the roller axis substantially coinciding with the axis about which the bail may swing relative to the bucket; and a latch, tripped by contact with an obstruction encountered be-' neath the bucket, for holding the bucket sec tions in closed position. v

5. A bucket comprising two complemental sections together makingup the body of the bucket and each having two side walls, an end wall and a sloping bottom: means from which the bucket sections depend and on which the bucket sections may swing; the pivots of the bucket sections beingspaced apart; a bail pivotally attached to the aforesaid means, so that the bucket may be supported by the bail: a roller rotatably mounted on each side of the bucket: the axis of said rollerssubstantiallv coinciding with the axis about which the bailmay swing relative to the bucket: the

bail being swingable between the rollers; a link on each side of the bucket pivotally connected at each end to the side walls of the bucket. said links extending each at an acute angle to lines ioiningthe pivots of the bucket sections, one pivotal connection of each link being near the top of the bucket. the other pivotal connecti on being below said line and at an intermediate part of the bucket; and a'latch, tripped by contact with an obstruction encountered beneath the bucket, for holding the bucket sections in closed position.

6. A bucket comprising two complemental sections togetherimaking up the bodv of the bucket and each having two side walls, an end wall and a sloping bottom: means from which the bucket sections depend and on which the bucket sections may swing: the pivots of the bucket sections being spaced apart:

a. bail pivotallv attached to the aforesaid 1 means. so that the bucket may be supported by the bail; a roller rotatably mounted on each side of the bucket. the axis of said rollers substantially coinciding with the axis about which the bail may'swing relative to the bucket; the bail being swingable between the rollers; means mechanically connecting I the two bucket sections together so that they must open and close simultaneously; anda latch, tripped by contact'with an obstruction encountered beneath the bucket, for holding v the bucket sections in closed position.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

I STANLEY H. DURBIN. 

